CK5
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New go fast ride...

What is the plan for unloading and loading the ramps and the rack itself? Looks like it is going to weigh a lot for one person.
 
What is the plan for unloading and loading the ramps and the rack itself? Looks like it is going to weigh a lot for one person.

It's not nearly as heavy as it looks. .083" wall tube on the rack and .120" wall on the ramps. Ramps are easy to handle by myself. I had my dad help me test fit the rack last night and it's not bad at all. I can drag it around myself and with a guy on each side you can lift it on the tailgate then shove it in from behind.
 
Getting close, I'm trying to get this knocked out ASAP so I can test load the Rhino on and still have time for tweaking as necessary before we hit the road for Huckfest.

Picked up some 4'x10' sheets of expanded metal after work tonight.


I made a new mount for the winch that's about 2" taller. Small change but it allows the ramp to slip under the motor. I'll make some guides and a way to pin them in place after I know this is all going to work.
You can also see in this pic I capped all the open ends tonight with some 1/8" plate. Both ends of the ramps as well as the open ends on the rack. Just gave it a more finished look. I also added that center piece of tube behind the winch. I was concerned the winch might pull the center of the headache rack down so problem solved.


Got both sides skinned. I have class tomorrow night after work but I'll try and get out in the garage and get the ramps skinned. After that I think I'm ready to test load.
 
you can always use a hill to help load/unload.

Are you going to build pockets for the ramps so they're held in place during transit?

Nice build :waytogo:
 
you can always use a hill to help load/unload.

Are you going to build pockets for the ramps so they're held in place during transit?

Nice build :waytogo:

Yes, pockets in the front and a pin in the back. I'm free tonight so I'll get the ramps skinned and we'll do a test load!
 
Thats looking real nice, hope it works the way you want it to.


....And I just realized I live up the hill from you a bit.
 
Thats looking real nice, hope it works the way you want it to.


....And I just realized I live up the hill from you a bit.

Yes sir, I've seen you post around here lately. I'm up in your neck of the woods from time to time.
 
When I use to ride snowmobiles this is what I ran. Built all out of aluminum with a full base that sat on the floor of the bed with no weight on the bed rails.

sledeck.jpg
 
When I use to ride snowmobiles this is what I ran. Built all out of aluminum with a full base that sat on the floor of the bed with no weight on the bed rails.

I looked at a lot of snowmobile decks before starting this project. I went back and forth a lot but decided what the heck, for a couple hundred bucks in material I'll just try it and see how it works.
The weight is really low in these side by sides and the overall weight has to be similar if not lighter than a pair of snowmobiles and I see guys transport them like you did all the time.
 
I finished the ramps this week and got it ready for a test. I stuck a block/bottle jack under the far back just to be safe on the very first time.
Loaded up ok, I got some bowing along the length.




To address the bow I picked up some 1 x 1 x .120" square tube and made some little rails that act like a miniature truss down the length of it.

They're just 2" tall legs (3" overall) but it made a big difference in rigidity.


Tomorrow if I have time I'm going to address two other issues. First I'm going to add a few more crossmembers with the 2" X 1" tube going width wise towards the back. The headache rack really stiffens up the front but obviously the back doesn't benefit so it needs a few extra crossmembers.
Also, I came up with a rear support using some 2" receiver tube that'll utilize the hitch of the truck. I can make it long enough that I can still get the tailgate open and closed.
It'll help support the rear of the rack, take some load off the bed itself and help lock it all in place besides the ratchet straps alone.
 
Built a piece to slide into the hitch of the truck that helps support the back and really locks the whole thing into place.
Managed to load it up and take it on a test run. Felt good with about 60psi in the air bags.
So two issues, it needs longer ramps... like much longer (the pics below are of me unloading it but I loaded on flat ground to see if it would work in a worst case scenario) and I need a backup plan for the winch.

Felt good to finally run it down the road though.









 
I think somebody mentioned the hitch mount a while back.:whistle:

Is the angle of the ramps too steep for the winch? Or is it comfortably issue?
 
I think somebody mentioned the hitch mount a while back.:whistle:

Is the angle of the ramps too steep for the winch? Or is it comfortably issue?

Yeah yeah, it's not how I was going to originally do it but it needed the support out back while loading. Plus now I know the weight isn't all on the bed itself.

It's just too steep to be safe. I had to toss my short ramps from my trailer on the bottom of these ramps to get it going. The winch handled it but it wasn't overly happy. So longer ramps and I'll pick up a snatch block to setup a double line pull and it'll all be good.
 
I didnt realize how wide the thing was until I saw it on the truck.

Very nice job on the rack.
 
Just found this thread.

Fab work is looking awesome as always man!

You should be the poster child for this website. Your work has come a long way from taking a pair of hair clippers to your furry dash.....:haha:

What's the total height on that thing, loaded up?
 
What about a beaver tail on that thing. Looks like you should have clearance for the tailgate.
 
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